CST to PST
-2hCST
CSTSOURCEPST
PSTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
CST and PST on the World Map
The map below highlights the CST (Central Standard Time) and PST (Pacific Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
CST – Central Standard Time
UTC-06:00Central Standard Time (CST) is the time zone for the central United States, Canada, and Mexico, 6 hours behind UTC.
- •CST covers 20 US states fully or partially.
- •Chicago and Houston are the two largest cities in the Central Time Zone.
- •Mexico City, one of the world's most populous cities, operates on CST.
- •CST is 1 hour behind EST and 2 hours ahead of PST.
PST – Pacific Standard Time
UTC-08:00Pacific Standard Time (PST) is the time zone for the US and Canadian Pacific coast, 8 hours behind UTC.
- •Silicon Valley and the world's biggest tech companies operate on Pacific Time.
- •The Hollywood film industry runs on PST/PDT.
- •PST is 3 hours behind EST, creating a significant business hours gap.
- •Vancouver, Canada's third-largest city, uses PST.
CST to PST Time Difference – Complete Guide
CST runs on Central Standard Time (CST) at UTC-06:00. PST runs on Pacific Standard Time (PST) at UTC-08:00. That puts CST 2 hours behind PST — a difference of -2h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in CST it is 7:00 AM in PST. Midnight in CST is 10:00 PM in PST. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
CST to PST time conversion table
| CST (CST) | PST (PST) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 10:00 PM | previous day |
| 6:00 AM | 4:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 5:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 6:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 7:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 10:00 AM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 1:00 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 3:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 4:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 7:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert CST to PST time
- Scheduling a call from CST to PST: a 10:00 AM start in CST lands at 8:00 AM in PST, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both CST and PST are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM CST time (9:00 AM–3:00 PM PST). That is roughly 6 hours of usable overlap.
- Coordinating a CST-based team with PST contacts: quoting times in the other side's local clock — not your own — removes the single biggest source of missed meetings.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM CST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -2h gap is not.
- Block 11:00 AM–5:00 PM CST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from CST and need PST colleagues present.
About CST (Central Standard Time)
Central Standard Time (CST) covers the central region of North America. It is the second most populous time zone in the US, including major cities like Chicago, Houston, and Dallas. CST is also used in Mexico City and much of Central America including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. During summer, most of the US and Canada switch to Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC-05:00), while Mexico and Central American countries generally remain on CST.
About PST (Pacific Standard Time)
Pacific Standard Time (PST) covers the west coast of North America, including tech hubs like San Francisco and Seattle, and entertainment capital Los Angeles. The Pacific Time Zone is home to Silicon Valley and the world's largest technology companies. During summer, clocks advance to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC-07:00). PST is also observed in Baja California, Mexico.
Best time to call between CST and PST
Both CST and PST sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 11:00 AM–5:00 PM CST, which is 9:00 AM–3:00 PM PST. That gives roughly 6 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
CST and PST share 6 hours of working-hours overlap (11:00 AM–5:00 PM CST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
CST is 2 hours behind PST (CST UTC-06:00 → PST UTC-08:00). The shared working window is 11:00 AM–5:00 PM CST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
CST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-06:00 · DST: UTC-05:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
PST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-08:00 · DST: UTC-07:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
Learn More About Time
Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CST and PST?
CST (CST, UTC-06:00) is 2 hours behind PST (PST, UTC-08:00). The gap is currently -2h.
How do I convert CST time to PST time?
Add -2h to CST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in CST is 7:00 AM in PST.
What time is it in PST right now?
PST uses PST at UTC-08:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the -2h offset from CST.
What is the best time to call PST from CST?
Call between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM CST — that maps to 9:00 AM–3:00 PM PST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, CST or PST?
CST is 2 hours behind PST. When it is 12:00 PM in CST it is 10:00 AM in PST.
Does daylight saving time affect the CST–PST difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -2h offset between CST and PST is fixed all year.
Which other cities share CST's time zone?
CST also covers Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Mexico City, Austin, Winnipeg, Memphis and 6 more.
Which countries use CST, CST's zone?
CST is used in United States (Central), Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan), Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and 1 more.
Is there a day difference between CST and PST?
Not normally. The -2h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between CST and PST?
PST is -2h from CST.
What timezone is CST in?
CST operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is PST in?
PST operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use CST (Central Standard Time)?
CST is used in United States (Central), Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan), Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and 3 more countries.
Does CST observe daylight saving time?
Yes, CST switches to CDT during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about CST?
CST covers 20 US states fully or partially. Chicago and Houston are the two largest cities in the Central Time Zone.
Which cities are in the PST timezone?
Major cities in the PST timezone include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, San Diego, Portland, Las Vegas, Sacramento.
What is the UTC offset for PST?
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is at UTC-08:00. During daylight saving time, it shifts to PDT.
What should I know about the PST timezone?
Silicon Valley and the world's biggest tech companies operate on Pacific Time. The Hollywood film industry runs on PST/PDT.
When is it midnight in CST, what time is it in PST?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in CST (CST), it is -2h later in PST (PST).
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See every conversion from CST →·See every conversion from PST →